SALAMIS

Greek Name

Σαλαμις

Transliteration

Salamis

Latin Spelling

Salamis

Translation

Of Salamis (island)

SALAMIS was the Naiad-nymph of a spring, well or fountain of the main town of the island of Salamis (in southern Greece). She was a daughter of the river-god Asopos who was abducted to the island by Poseidon. Their son Kykhreus (Cychreus) was the first king of Salamis.

OFFSPRING

ENCYCLOPEDIA

SA′LAMIS (Salamis), a daughter of Asopis, and by Poseidon the mother of Cenchreus or Cychreus. (Paus. i. 35. § 2; Apollod. iii. 12. § 7; Diod. iv. 72.) From her the island of Salamis was believed by the ancients to have received its name.

Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 35. 2 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"It is said that the first to give this name [Salamis] to the island was Kykhreus (Cychreus), who called it after his mother Salamis, the daughter of Asopos."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 11. 5 :
"[In the temple of Zeus at Olympia are paintings :] Salamis carrying in her hand the ornament made for the top of a ship's bow."

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 72. 1-5 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"Asopos made his home in Phlios (Phlius) [Sikyonia], where he married Metope, the daughter of Ladon, to whom were born two sons, Pelasgos and Ismenos, and twelve daughters, Korkyra (Corcyra) and Salamis, also Aigina (Aegina), Peirene, and Kleone (Cleone), then Thebe, Tanagra, Thespeia, and Asopis, also Sinope, and finally Ornia and Khalkis (Chalcis) . . .
Salamis was seized by Poseidon and taken to the island which was named Salamis after her; and she lay with Poseidon and bore Kykhreus (Cychreus), who became king of this island."